Temperatures expected to hit 30C as hot weather continues

It is going to be another balmy day in Aotearoa as temperatures are expected to creep into the high 20s with some centres cracking 30 degrees in the North Island.

It followed a sweltering Sunday as Blenheim Airport reported a national high of 33.2C, while Nelson hit 31.7C and Whakatāne reached 31C.

"There is a ridge of high-pressure to the north of the country and it is affecting central New Zealand," MetService meteorologist Rob Kerr said.

Those same places that reached into the 30s yesterday would remain warm, but would not reach the same highs.

"It's looking into the 20s for most places, it will be a little bit cooler," Kerr said.

"The band of warm air will trend north and hit Bay of Plenty with places like Whakatāne and Keri Keri hitting 30C."

Some drizzle was expected around central New Zealand during the day, he said.

Looking ahead, the ridge of high pressure moving north over the country would continue during Wednesday as a front approaches New Zealand from the southwest before moving north across the South Island on Thursday.

The front would bring rain to western districts of the South Island, possibly reaching warning criteria in Fiordland, Westland and Otira.

"A ridge pushes in over the South Island late Thursday and Friday as the front moves onto the North Island and weakens," Kerr said.

The National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research was forecasting little to no rain in the North Island this week and any meaningful rainfall would be confined to the South Island's west coast.

It also spelled warm weather for the North Island and a cold snap in the South Island later in the week.